Delay mechanism for tape controlled apparatus



4, 1954 F. MARTINDELL 2,687,210

DELAY MECHANISM FOR TAPE CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Dec. 30, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR FRANK MARTINDELL Hi 4PM ATTORNEY Aug. 24, 1954 F. MARTINDELL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 30, 1952 INVENTOR FRANK MARTINDELL BY; W W

mm 6 5 mm 3 8i n 3 .l 2. n 6 5 k mm m 6 co. 8 Hw L L a .5 4 mm "E fi mm m wm mm mm am m oE ATTORNEY Aug. 24, 1954 F. MARTINDELL DELAY MECHANISM FOR TAPE CONTROLLED APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 30, 1952 ww Oh MIN INVENTOR FRANK MARTINDELL 25 JP ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 24, 1954 UNITED; PATENT: O F-ice;

DELAY MECHANISM FOR TAPE-- coueaonmo APPARATUS rank iMae inQeHQ-I 19 m, @1 1 ni ma. b saaa sian ets, t le ee me: fi nic i etll s a ia ene ammit Application-December 30, 1:952,.Serial No. 328,128 .n

11 schism? 1 r.

This invention; pertains to alinecasting and composing machines and; more. particu arly ."tO signal controlled v mechanisms employed ol? the aut m tic; peration and supervision; thereon To efiec-t automaticcontrol of presentpcommeiw cia1 types.o f ili-necastins and composi g machin s it has-been ob erved thatthe sp cdtofnperation which is attainabletbythe signal sensin andmachanical selectin mechanism 1 exceeds that a which the iinecasting machine, is capablecof 1 re: p i 1-, Accordin ly, d vices have scon f c si whi h-serve to introduce a timaha r delay factor into the operation ,of the automatic control mechanism sotthat, there i mayo-result an d-iustmentin certain iiHSbflMCSSWhEPe thesnefids of fthatwov ceyices are at .yariance, U, Patents N 29621 32,;Z, 99, 4and2104mm andc0.- nd is a pl cation S ri l No.1 184x109. fils v S n: t me; 1 5.0 new 5. :Patent N M6559 sc se exam of m han sms desisned,.t0 lob.- nta di ation; b tween automaticicontrol i esra d t e p ncipal line casting and coms n m chine-st Where no d naiy "G mmfiitionwvarious. char.- te m ts sesa r leased a ternatively an i e ul r s cces ons a i n-t matrix release ide vice has suificientltiine torestoreitselfito normal condition so; that it may be uinpreaoliness for a s cee in o era on thou h insocdoineit nequi-rfi s mewhat Lmsern iod to comnleteits ct on cles-t n that-periodwhich is requ red by. an; openating unit to, complete its initiating cycle. Whe qe a given isi nal is repeatedfioneor or es i hash encbservectthatttheisccur reuse o 1 e s cceedin c nsecutive i itiatin inks in advanceso the corresponding-toperr atingcycle; of the principalmachineithatits as sociated matrix-v release device. is incapable :of anriving at its no 'ma1 position in sufficient time to. spond t e e o The primary object ofthe inventionis tOEDIO- vide-a deyice of simple construction which .is responsive to consecutively repeatedv characters ,for introducing automatically ;a time tclelayginzthe L011- at on o t e eon- 101 unit to: conform i .i herent speed of said unit to that of its associated ine as ms ma h e Another obj ct of -the inventionis to provide in a control unit for linecasting andicomposing machines, a means for distinguishing between predetermined consecutive occurrences of code signals; certain'of which require the interposition ofa time delay factor, and others of which requi'reno time "delay. A further-obiect-of the invention is to provide i rat 2 a single c ntro mea s Whites ually es onsi e n ad termin wi na si9 7 e et ol l ch requir ng cl fifier ntsiel t sters 01 e f ct t eerescin a heize i t an featu e o the i venti ri t r e 'em a r pea charact n? i m iQi ndelay ii lq for; controllingiche operation o f linecas composing machines, which rnecha I sets.x ad nel e ili ies :in u li. a a 'ftt i e1 e me ts-end, ha i iee sei a d t t selectable instrumentalities which far ejesnon ye t seasa tive id n ica spec to n'tereo ns f to c mp is n an idle-ta a a clabetween acl of s n EQQQQ H tirne delay means co npi isesfla "qelay la tcl wassentl immense s e tiv ly" i t s e 12 .9 which junctions in y 'esponse to precletern i eel For a bettet ufi s ang 'na' f the p es nton1- ea iea te e ea eme te s t l the i l l fie t m qnt sen n eeei mefii aw th it nt s dr w ngs w i T Fig 1 is a longi tuqina1sectional,yiexgv of 9 recnt s ed ri h i mfh a,e b ie therein insin e es tat e t t e-P e ent. t; i

Fig 1-2; is a in a. 1:1

3 End i t ii of eme-chemi e c a new it t e e iiaa e s ew -151 a e lt ew i s len in ;5 -5 iehes eeee :in$ 9 Pr e ed amtq li1- 5 21? b :Q p g 9" a i FQmQPi f! tliOLtIlfiChZlfliSHl exernp lifiedpy .U. S Eaten No. 2,Q9l,286,1 A record readter"mechanism listin- .dia fid y the refi ce-character! i Wi c canist in l-ib e t-a PI, e ereleve ssi -State wers each P o ide w th a z elsr Pin .43 mid: V ln: a mme ishaft 4 u he M2 aeeema m 97 p vie slyme- Q TWW ipsrieratins mashinewhere i r e wa nermutatively vari nt trans er e rows .c lllQlQS- Whenahetape isemploxeidqin the controlof line- .castingiandkcomposingmachineseach now relates toia lineicompositioncharactenoritoa functional operationtof -thetcomposing machine as distinguishectirom matrix release or selection. Each a be Said newne s e. rea -versely; in which a basic number of perforations may occur permutably. Because the presence or absence of a perforation is controlled by perforating mechanism which may be electrically supervised, these indications will be referred to according to telegraph terminology as marking or spacing signal elements respectively. For convenience in describing the sensing and transfer mechanisms of the record reader mechanism in its alternative positions corresponding terminology will be employed. hereinafter.

Individual springs I (Fig. 1) tend normally to urge the feeler levers i2 to their extreme counterclockwise position and in this they are cyclically opposed by the action of a reciprocating bail it which is comprised of a transversely extending rod i1 traversing beneath the horizontal extensions l5 integrally formed with the feeler levers [2. The reciprocating bail It pivotally supported at an intermediate point thereof and includes a depending portion which carries a follower roller l9 spring urged against the periphery of a feeler lever operating cam (not shown) carried upon a shaft 22 driven through a clutch from a suitable source of power. Also, carried on shaft 22, but not shown, are a tape feed cam and a cam which serves to reciprocate through a transfer bail its periodically a set of transfer T-levers 3? as described hereinafter.

During its cycle of rotation, the tape feed cam (not shown) imparts reciprocatory movement to a follower roller carried by a tape feed lever 26. At the opposite extremity of lever 26 is pivotally carried in upright position a tape feed pawl 29. The reciprocatory movement of pawl 29 which engages the teeth of a ratchet wheel 3! imparts step-by-step motion to a feed shaft 32 which carries a sprocket feed Wheel 33 Whose pins coincide with the central longitudinal row of perforations conventionally provided in control forms or'tapes 35 of the class employed in connection with permutation signal operating mechanism. A spring 34 urges lever arm in a clockwise direction about its pivot. Ihe movement of the tape feed pawl 29 upwardly does not cause the movement of the tape, but this is done by spring 34.

When the several feeler levers l2 are cyclically withdrawn by bail it, the tape 3!] is advanced a distance of one step by the pawl 29, following which bail I6 is returned, permitting the individual springs l5 to urge their associated levers l2 in a counterclockwise direction. The presence or absence of a hole in the tape determines finally the distance of angular movement of any of the levers l2, depending upon whether the feeler pins l3 pass through the tape or whether they are blocked by the tape as where a nonperforated position is found. The setting of the combined set of levers i2 is thereafter communicated by an associated set of transfer T-levers 3'5 to a set of intermediate connector bars 55. Counterclockwise movement of transfer bail or device I53 thrusts the transfer levers Bl upwardly, causing their projections or abutments 43 to encounter ones or the others of the feeler lever shoulders or abutments i l. In accordance with the positions of the several levers [2, the transfer levers 31 are rocked clockwise or counterclockwise, causing their disc extensions 45 to move the connector bars or settable members 38 correspondingly.

The connector bars or settable members 35 thereby receive a setting which corresponds to the perforations in the tape during each given cycle of operation and they in turn communicate this setting to a set of notched code selector bars 45. Intermediate the tape sensing levers 12 there is pivotally supported on shaft M a transfer setting lever ll resembling somewhat the general class of levers l2, but different therefrom in that it is not provided with a sidewardly extending arm which carries a feeler pin l3, nor is the lever 4'! provided with a horizontally extending projection 18 cooperable with the bail IE, but in lieu of a projection [8, this lever 4'! carries a leftwardly extending arm 48. As may be understood from the absence of a feeler pin l3, lever 41 is not positioned under the control of the presence or absence of a perforation in the tape or control form 35, but instead is positioned, as will hereinafter appear, by a selectively initiated device which is responsive to repeated character signals.

Cooperating with the transfer setting lever 41 is a transfer lever 49 similar to transfer levers 31, and a connector or settable member 5! resembling connector bars or settable members 33. Instead of bar 5| being articulated to a code selector bar 46, it is connected instead to a blocking bar 52, similar to blocking bar 52 shown in Fig. l of the aforementioned U. S. Patent No. 2,104,030. The projections or wards 53 of blocking bar 52 are distributed so as to clear each of the individually selectable pull bars 54 under normal conditions when any one of them is otherwise receivable with the code notches appearing in the general class of code bars 45, to block the selective movement thereof during an idle cycle of rotation, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

In contradistinction to the general class of pull bars 54 there may be noted in Fig. 1 a pair of certain function performing pull bars 540, the purpose of which is explained in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,090,654. The lug or ward attributes of blocking bar 52 are designed to normally prevent or block the selective clearance of pull bars 545 while the projections 53 clear the general class of pull bars 54. Subsequently, when blocking bar 52 is shifted, either in accordance tions is effected with the projections 53 blocking the general class of pull bars 54 but affording a selective clearance (in the event of a rail shift signal) to the rail shift pull bars 540.

The connectors 38 and 5] are slidably supported in guide blocks 55 and which in turn are mounted on a back plate 56. Connectors 38 and 5| are held down by retainer plates 51 and 5B. To the rear of connectors 38 and 5| (Fig. 2) and parallelly disposed thereto is a latch member 59. Disposed near each end of latch member 59 and on opposite edges thereof are open ended notches GI and 62 which cooperate with pivot studs 63 and 64, respectively, mounted on the back plate 56. As viewed in Fig. 5, the latch member 59 is connected by a spring 55 to a detent bail member 61 which is carried pivotally on pivot studs 58 journalled in the guide block 55. Carried at the free end of the bail 57 is an adjusting screw 59 which controls the spatial relationship between the member El and the latch 59. A spring Hi gormally imparts clockwise rotation to member Carrie-d in the bail member 61 and adapted to span the bars 38 and 5! is a rod H on which are rotatably mounted a plurality of spaced rollers 72, one superposed above each of said bars 55 and 5!. As more clearly shown in Fig. 4, each of the connector bars 35 and. 5t carries integrally on its upper edge a saw tooth cam projection or detent 1'3. The positions which may be assumed by the several cam projections 13 may vary, de-

pending-upon: the relative position vof the con nector rbars =38 and I Presentedwintermediate the two: aforesaid. positions and in the path of traVel -ofthe' projectionsl3 are the-aforesaid plurality of anti-friction rollers 12. I

Referring to Fig. 2, there is positioned: at substantially the centerof-the-unit a bracket 14, which; as indicated in Fig.3, supports aplurality of :roller :rod assemblies. In the embodiment of the invention-sho'wn, foursuch roller rod assemblies 15, 16, Tl and18'are indicated (Fig. 1). Thesearol-ler rod assemblies are arranged in pairs andi'each pair-is disposed one above and one .below the connector bars 38 and 5 I The'rod assemblies are biased toward each other in pairs by springs 191('-Fig: =3) so as to cause said rod ass-embliesto pivot about their bearings 80 in bracket 14. Each of the roller rod assemblies 15, It, 11 and 18 carries: a series-ofanti-friction rollers (one for each bar 5| and 52). The rearmcst, rollers on the rod assemblies' 15, 16, 1! and T8 are in registry vertically with the latch member 59. A

Pivot-ally carried on pivot studs 8| 'mounted in the guide block 65 1s a bail assembly 82. Carried-in theibail asSemb1y-82T'and adapted to span theubars 3-8 and El is a. rod 83:on which is rotatably carried an anti-friction roller 84 which normally. bears upon the' -upperedge-of bar 5! (Fig. 4) Bail assembly 82is normally urged counterclockwise by a spring 85: As viewed in Fig. 1, the'bail--assemb1y=82is provided withan upwardly andarightwardly directed arm 86; the free end of whichis adapted to cooperate, as-will hereinaf-ter appear, with an arm8l extending down wardly andrightwardly from the tape feedlever 26w The bail assembly 82 normally assumes its clockwise position, as viewedinFigz' i, with the connector bar 5| in its rightward position and the notch SB-thereinout of registry with the roller 84; "Under this condition of operation the end of -arm -86 is ,held free of the arm 87 thus permitting the tape feed lever to operate in its normal manner.- However, when-the bar 5| is shifted to its leftward position, the notch 88 is brought beneath and in registry with the roller 86, thereby permitting bail assembly 82 "to be actuated counter-clockwise by its spring '85* to allow the free end of its arm $6 to bear against the end or the arm 81 of the tapefeed lever 26. Then when the-tape feed lever 26 moves upwardly to engage the next tooth of the ratchet 3| to feedthe tape 3|), the endof arm- 86 will 'be swung beneath the arm 5] to prevent the downward, or feeding movement, of the lever 26, thus preventing tape feed at this time, for a purpose hereinafter described. The bars 38 are cut away adjacent the notch 88 sufiiciently to permit this operation of bail 82.

latch -99 mounted pivotally on a stud l-M secured to the blocking plate '5-5. Latch '99 normally biased clockwisef by a spring- I02 attached-thereto. Projection 00 also cooperates with the lower end: of leverarm 965 Thus, lever 9| is normally biasedcounterclockwiseby a spring I3. 1 r

In the operation of the apparatus according to the presentinvention it is assumed that the tape contains a perforated message including occurrences of A consecutively repeated character code'signals. During the cyclic rotation of the cams=on shaft 22, the tape feed cam (not shown) functions to rockthe tapefeed lever 26 to cause pawl -29 to :actuate the tape stepping assembly to :feed or stepthe-tape the distance-between two transverse rowsof perforationsi- Between each=stepping-movement the -tape is sensed or readby the sensing pins t3. In the rest position shown iniFigwl the-tapesensin-g control cam (notshown) "holds: the bail |6 in its counterclockwise position whereat the rod I 1 holds the tape feeler levers L2 in their retracted or clockwisesposition against the-pull of their individual springs- |5. The special lever 4-1, which has 'no arm=|8 to cooperate with the-rod |7,is normally held in its counterclockwise position byilever 9|. During normal operation, when there are no repeatwharacters the -levers |2 assume their Also carried on shaft 22 is a delay operating cam .89.. Cooperating with the cam. 89 is a delay or plural-armedlever 90 mountedpivotally on a shaft 92 appropriately positioned in the frame of, the apparatus. Lever 90 comprises. a, cam fol-. lower arm 83 and two depending arms 95 and 96. Lever 90'is normally urged in a clockwise direction by a spring 91. Arm 55cooperates with latchmember 59 (Fig. 5), and arm 95"cooperates with the connector bar 5| (Fig 4); Also mounted pivotally' on shaft 92 is a two-armedlever 9| comprising arms 94 and 58. Arm '94 of lever 9| cooperates with an arm 48*of selector lever"; andarmBB terminateS in-a laterally directed projectionloo which cooperates with a blocking clockwise or counterclockwise? position according to ther presenceor absence of code holes in the tape 38, and then when the transfer bail i I03 rocked in timed relationtetheLtapesenSing or reading operation; one or the other of the abutments 43 cooperates with'one or the'other of the abutments .to rockthe T-levers3'! accordingly, to thereby shifttheconnector bars 38 rightwardly or leftwardly depending upcnwhether the T-lever 31 associated therewith was rocked counterclockwise or clockwise.

It'will be recalled that as the connector bars orlinks 38 were shiftedrightwardly' or leftwardly, thecam projections .73thereon acted, through bail 57 :to rotate latchmember 53 in a counter clockwise direction to bring the righ-tend thereof (as viewed in Figs. 1 and 5) momentarily into blocking relation with the. arm 95 of lever 90, therebypreventing lever 90 fromfollcwing the cam 59 into the lower portion thereof. Thus, thearrestment of lever 90 caused special selector lever 41 to remain or beheld inthe position shown in Fig. 1 so that the abutment 05 thereon could operate with abutment 06 of its associated special .T-.-lever 49-130 cause, during the transfer operation, the lever 49 to be rotated'counterclockwiseto thereby shift. or return the special .bar 5| to its rightward position if it is not already in this position. However, as lever 90 has not yet been operated, bar 5| has not been actuated leftwardly, and accordingly, T-lever is already in itscounterclockwise position. Moreover, since bar 5| hasnot been actuated leftwarcily .(from its normal right-hand or rightward position, Fig. 1); the ball 82 likewise has not been actuated to cause its arm to block the tape feed operation, as previously described. During the period of operation when no repeated characters or code signal groups occur, the blocking bar 52 associated withthe special bar 5| assumes its. rightward position wherein the code notches therein are presented below the selectable pull'bars 54 tothereby permit their selective operation.

When consecutively repeated code signals are sensed in the tape 30, the blocking bar 52 becomes effectiveupon the initial .appearance of the repeated character in the following manner to block or prevent the selective operation of pull bars 54. During the cycle of operation of cam shaft 22, the transfer operation under the control of transfer bail I03 occurs following the tape reading operation. The delay lever 90 tends to operate during that portion of the transfer operation when the cam portions I3 are beneath the roller I2 acting to hold the bail 6! in its raised position for a purpose to be presently described.

Thus, when a code signal is to be repeated, the selectors I2 are first set in accordance with the initial appearance of said repeated code signal as just described in connection with a normal operation, since in so far as the tape reader is involved, it is not yet known that a signal is to be repeated. Accordingly, at the beginning of the repeat cycle (which is the second occurrence of the character code signal being repeated) the selector or feeler levers I2 are already set according to the code perforations of the repeated character. Therefore, during the tape sensing or reading operation under the control of bail I6, the positions of the feel-er levers I2 are not changed. Then, when the transfer bail I03 is operated, the positions of the T-levers 37 and 49 are likewise not changed. Because of this, no movement of bars 38 and SI, and hence cam projections I3, has occurred and as a result thereof the latch member 59 remains in its lowered position with the right end thereof out of thepath of the depending arm 96.

Therefore, the delay lever 30 is now permitted to follow the cam 30, so that when the follower roller I04 rides onto the low part of the cam, the lever 30 responds to the pull of spring 9! and is rotated counterclockwise. The timing of the movements of levers '90 and 3|, and bail I03 is such that the arm 94 permits lever 41 to respond to its spring I5, and moves abutment I05 out of the path of the approaching abutment I06 to prevent interference therebetween, while the arm 96 of lever 90 is effective upon shoulder III of special bar 5| to shift said bar 5| leftwardly (Fig. 4). 1

Bar 51 in moving leftwardly actuates the special T-lever 49 to its clockwise position where it remains in readiness to effect, during the next ensuing cycle, the return of bar 5i to its rightward position. During the early part of the cycle just described, the feed pawl 29 has been elevated by the tape feed cam to its upper position preparatory to effect the stepping of the tape 30 which, as previously described, is effected upon the downward movement of pawl 29 under the control of spring 34. However, bar 5i in moving leftwardly brings its notch 66 beneath the roller and rod assembly 83-434, thereby permitting said assembly to drop into said notch, thus allowing bail 82 to rotate counterclockwise to present the end of lever arm 86 into the path of arm 0? of tape feed lever 23, thereby preventing the com-- pletion of the tape feed operation during this cycle. Bar 5I has also in its leftward shifting movement caused, through articulation I01, the leftward movement of blocking bar 52 to prevent the selective operation of pull bars M.

The control unit or apparatus according to the present invention has now been conditioned to introduce automatically a time delay factor in the operation of the control unit with respect to the controlled machine; for example, a linecasting and composing machine. When the cam shaft 22 begins its rotation for the next ensuing pull bars 54.

cycle the tape feeler levers I2 are permitted to sense or read the tape 30. However, since the tape 30 was not stepped during the last preceding cycle of operation, the pins I3 are cooperating with the same code areas in the tape as in the previous cycle. Accordingly, when the transfer bail I03 operates, no change in the setting of bars 36 will result, and thus no movement of cam projections I3 will occur. Bail 61, in so far as cam projections I3 on bars 38 are involved, will remain quiescent. However, with bar 5I still in its leftward position, the T-lever 49 is still in its clockwise position with its abutment I06 ready to cooperate with an abutment I05 of the special selector lever 41. Then in the above-mentioned operation of bail I03, which occurs while roller I04 is riding on the high part of cam 89, it will cause abutment I06 to strike abutment I05 to impart counterclockwise movement to T-lever 49, which in turn will cause the special bar 5| to move rightwardly. As the bar 5 I is thus moved rightwardly, the cam projections I3 thereon will, in moving to the right side of the vertical center line of roller I2, cause bail 61 to rise. Latch member 53 is thereby raised to bring the right end thereof into blocking relation with arm 96 of lever 90, thus preventing the lever 00 from responding to the low part of cam 09, as previously described, and permitting special selector lever 41 to remain in the counterclockwise position shown in Fig. 1. The roller 84 is cammed out of notch 88 (Fig. 4) and arm 86 of bail 82 acts to unblock the tape feed lever 26. Thus, during this time delay cycle, the bar 5I was restored to its rightward position, and the tape feed lever 26 was unblocked to permit the tape 30 to again be stepped under the pull of spring 34 to present the next row of perforations to the pins I3.

From the foregoing it is observed that the bar 5I, like bars 38, has no normal rightward or leftward position. Bars 38 are shiftable rightwardly and leftwardly solely by the transfer device I03; but bar 5i is dually controlled, that is, leftwardly by the delay lever 90 and rightwardly by the transfer mechanism I03.

If the next row of perforations is similar to the previous row, that is, if the code signal is again repeated, then during the transfer cycle the bars 38 are not effected but remain in their set positions because the positions of the feeler levers I2 has not been changed. As a result, the

latch lever 59 is not raised to bring its right end into blocking relation with the arm 96 of delay lever 90, and as previously set forth, the bar 5| is actuated leftwardly. The block bar 52 is thus positioned to prevent the selective operation of Accordingly, the next succeeding cycle is a time delay cycle wherein the code signal in the tape 30 is sensed a second time without effecting a selective operation of the pull bars 54,

thus permitting the functional operation of the linecasting machine, initiated during the previous cycle, to be completed. During the instant cycle, however, the special bar 5i is returned to its rightward position and the tape feed lever 26 is unblocked, and the tape 30 is stepped as described hereinbefore. Thus, so long as a repetition of signals persists, the tape 30 will be stepped every other cycle, with a time delay (or non-stepping) cycle interposed automatically between each said stepping cycle.

In accordance with the present invention, facilities are also provided to prevent or block lithe-operation :of the plural armed :lever 90 of iithe liinecasting machine which require a time delayifactor ito ber'interposed. That :is, when repeated rub-outs or blanks? occur in the tape (itistnot desirable tostclelay the feeding of .the tape 30, since no matrices will be dropped in the line" casting machine. To achievethis result, two :roller rod assemblies are provided; namely, assembly 1.1 responds to the rub-out code signal, and assembly 18 responds to the blank code signal. Thuspinresponseto asetting of the :bars 38 and15l inaccordance with the rub-out code :si'gnal all the rloars 38 will assume their left-hand or marking position, and the bar 5.! will remain in :its rightward tor spacing position. Assembly '11 will then respond to the'pull of itsspring l9 and rise into the alignment of code notches, and in so doing the rear roller n the rod assembly .1! :acts toraisethe .latchmember 59 to present ,the right end thereof .into the path of the arm .96 of delaylever 90, thereby ipreventingthe leftward movement "of :bar 51., landthe blocking bar .52.:therefore remainsinitsznon blocking or rightward position. Accordingly-when the barfii athus remains in its rightward position, thebail 82 (Fig. is held inwits clockwise position with the .arm -86 thereof out of blocking relation with :the tape feedwlever, whereupon regular tape feed rcontinues.

-In asimilarimanner, when .:the bars '38 are set in accordance with a iblank vcode signal, the assembly 78 is selected (instead of the assembly 1?!) to effectuthesame result luponilatch .member 59 and delay lever k9. asiwasieffected upon the 'sselectionwofnssernbly 'iz'l =(j ustwdescribed). When repetition of :other characters loc'curs the selec= tion of both the rub-out and the blank.roller rod-assemblies TI and E78,;respeotively, is suppressed, -and the :delay action is :carried out as ,previously described.

The present invention also provides facilities forselectinga thinspace (orfiXed-space) matrix and aspacebandsequentially inresponse to an .fadd-thin-spacecode:signal. Reference may be had "to UtSLPatent No..2,28:7,7.98,forva :more detailed -accountof the application of an add-thinspaceldeviceranalogousito thepresentembodiment .o'fcthe invention to a linecasting and composing machine. :In response rtowthessetting :of bars .38 and 5:l-icorresponding 117017118 iadd-thin-space .codewsignal, an alignment .of rnotches will occur beneaththerollerfrod assembly J16 permitting assembly 16 ztowfall thereinto under *theiinfluence of :itsrspring -19. The latch member 159 is thus urged downwardly iunderupressure of said spring to-bring the rightrendof saidrmemberout of the path "IOf the depending farm 96 of delay lever 90. Lever 90 iis thus .free cduring :the cycle of operation to rotate iclockwise, and through arm 96,1120 shitt thespecial "bar 51 leftwardly, as previously described; In the zadd-rthinespace arrangement according to the present invention, thezbar 5 I zis connected through connection tilt?! a. blocking bar, similar "to bar ri il 8 shown in Fig. 3zof said Patent No. 2,287,793,:which is provided with .ap'air of lugs ('similar to lugs H 9 and I 28 of said patent) which control alternatively the selection'of thepull bar-s54 assigned to thespac band and thin "(orifixed space) space selections. The blocking "bar (comparable tosaid bar i it) thus 'in'mov'ing to the left permits selection of thintor fixed) "space and'prevents the selection tion is applicable.

.Of a spaceband. At the same time, the delay lever is permitted torotate clockwise by cam 89 so that its arm 294 allows the delay selector .lever '47 to rotate in acounterclockwise direction to clearthe T-lever t9 which thereforeallows the bar 5| to be moved to the left, as previously described. Notch '88 of bar 51 'is brought beneath roller 8d of bail L82 to permit bail to rotate counter-clockwise to cause its arm 8% :to block the tape feeding operation. Also, at the same time, when the bar t5l moves to 'the left, under the influence ef power storage means or springs W, the assembly 16 is cammed out of the notch lrdB, 330 that the latch member 59 is no longer held down by the roller 'rodassembly 16. Then, when the bar 5'! :is returned in the next cycle to itsrr'ightward position, as previously described, by the transfer mechanism its, the tape feed mechanism is unblocked, and the blocking bar (similar to said ibar JHIB) isshifted to prevent the selection of a thin (or fixed) space matrix and to permit the selection of a spaceband :on the second cycle.

' The present invention further provides facilities for introducing a time delay factor in the operation of the control unit with respect to the duplex rail shift mechanism in a line casting machine. Reference rnay be had to U. S. Patent No.

2,090,654 for a:detailed description of the duplex rail delay mechanismto which the present inven- In response to the setting of bars 38 and 5 l corresponding .to either the upper -rail or lower rail codesignal, an alignment of :notches 'will occur :beneath the roller rod assemlc'ly permitting assembly 15 to fall therein'to 'under lthe' infiuenceof its spring .79. Thisdownward movement of assembly 75 will aotito :depress latch member 59 and hold it down (since spring 1:02 is stronger than spring '58) thereby allowing the delay lever to rotate "in a clockwise direction, due to the fact that the arm 95 thereof is at this time unblocked. As previously described, the bar 75! is thus actuated 'leftwardly to shift the blocking bar 52 correspondingly to prevent selecitionof theiup-perrai'landlower rail pull bars 540 10f ithe seriesiof pull bars 54. In this movement of bar 55!, the projection H5 ('Fig. 4) thereon is moved to .the left of the vertical centerline of assembly 15, fora purpose which will presently appear.

When the blocking bar connector 5| is thus moved leftwardly, the notch 38 thereon is presented beneathuthe roller .88 of bail 82 to permit bail arm "86 to block or prevent the tape feeding function, as described hereinbefore. While :the bar 5! is in its leftward position the assembly 75 remains clown, and accordingly the spring [62 urges the latch 99 clockwise about pivot HM into latching relation with lateral portion Hill of the two-armedilever 9I,so that, when the delay lever 9.8] is rotated clockwise by its spring 91, .its arm 9:6 Wil1coact with the lateral portion lEHi to rotate the lever 9i clockwise so as to cause said portion Hill to come into latching engagement With the shoulder I09 (Fig. 4) of latch 99. Therefore, so long as latch 99 is permitted to remain in its downward position under the pull of spring I02, the lever 9| will be held in its clockwise position. As a result thereof, arm 94 of leverill will permit special selector lever 41 to assume its counterclockwise position with abutment Hi5 "out of register with abutment 1%. Then "upon ensuing cycles of operation the bar 5! Will not be returned to its rightward position so long as lever 91 remains latched up by latch 99,

and accordingly the feeding of the tape 30 will continue to be prevented.

In the control of linecasting and composing machines, most functions are concerned with the selective release of matrices from their respective channels in the storage magazine after which they are permitted to gravitate to a lower level and be assembled in a carriage device known in the art as a matrix assembling block. Each matrix is customarily provided with two related character impressions or intaglios located one above the other in the operative position of the matrix, while the assembling block is provided with a shiftable or displaceable upper level supporting rail which, by its presentment to, or withdrawn from, the ingress portion of the assembling block, may be made to determine the position in which subsequently received matrices shall thereafter be supported within the block. The position of each matrix, one determined by the condition of the aforesaid shiftable rail, prevails throughout the composing operation and until an assembled line of matrices is thereafter transported by the elevator to the casting mechanism.

A certain time interval is required from the instant during which a matrix is released until the instant at which it is received in the assembling block of the elevator of the linecasting machine, As a result, when it is desired to effect the movement of the assembling block slide rail following the reception of a certain matrix to vary the manner of reception of the next matrix or matrices, means must be provided for suspending the movement of the rail until the preceding matrix has had time to complete its travel and be properly received in the assembling block. Otherwise, with a spontaneous movement of the rail the reception of the preceding matrix might be effected in a position other than the one intended for it.

The afore-mentioned Patent No. 2,090,654 discloses a mechanism for introducing a time delay period equivalent to or exceeding the time necessary for the travel of one matrix from its storage magazine to the assembling block before the shiftable rail is operated to receive the next matrix or matrices. This mechanism is exemplified in the present disclosure by the ratchet l H] shown in Fig. 1. Accordingly, the disclosure of said patent -is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the present description. Briefly, however, a step-by-step rotation is imparted to the ratchet H by a pawl member I I3 operatively associated with the tape feed mechanism, so that a pin I I2 on ratchet I 10, after a predetermined number of cycles of operation of the tape reader functions tocooperate with a means for swinging the lever 41 back to its clockwise position whereat abutment I05 is again positioned above abutment I06. Then upon the next ensuing cycle of operation of the transfer mechanism ms, the coaction of abutments I05 and I06 causes bar 5| to be shifted rightwardly, so that the projection H5 will cam the rod assembly l5 upwardly momentarily to effect the unlatching lever 9! by the latch 99. Also, the bail 82 will be cammed out of notch 88 to cause the arm 8'6 to be swung out of blocking relation with the arm 81 of the tape feed lever 26. When the blocking bar similar to bar 52, having the upper rail and lower rail blocking projections thereon, is thus shifted rightwardly, the upper and lower rail pull bars (of the group of pull bars 5 3) are unblocked so that the selec- 12 tion of the upper rail or lower railmay not be effected.

It is understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tape controlled selector mechanism, means for sensing code indicia in a tape, transfer means, a plurality of settable members set by said transfer means according to the operation of said tape sensing means, a special element associated with said tape sensing means, a special settable member, cyclically operable cam means, cam follower means comprising a blockable portion and a setting portion, control means controlled by said tape sensing means, said control means comprising cam projections on said settable members, a rocker member controlled by said projections, and a latch member articulated to said rocker member, said latch member adapted to cooperate with said blockable portion, and spring means effective through said cam follower means following the nonoperation of said latch member by said rocker member under an inert condition of said plurality of settable members indicative of consecutive occurrences of similar code indicia in the tape, whereby said special settable member is enabled to be set in one manner solely by the setting portion of said unblocked cam follower means, and to be set in a reverse manner by the coaction of said special element and said transfer means in response to the blocked condition of said cam follower means indicative of the resumption of normal occurrences of variant code indicia in the tape.

2. In a tape controlled selector mechanism, means for sensing code indicia in a tape, transfer means, a plurality of settable members set by said transfer means according to the operation of said tape sensing means, a special element associated with said tape sensing means, a special settable member, cyclically operable cam means, cam follower means comprising a blockable portion and a setting portion, and control means controlled by said tape sensing means, said control means comprising cam projections on said settable members, a rockermember controlled by said projections, and a floating latch member yieldably articulated to said rocker member, said latch member adapted to cooperate with said blockable portion, and power storage means effective through said cam follower means following the nonoperation of said latch member by said rocker member under an inert condition of said plurality of settable members indicative of consecutive occurrences of similar code indicia in the tape, whereby said special settable member is enabled to be set in one manner solely by the setting portion of said unblocked cam follower means, and to be set in a reverse manner by the coaction of said special element and said transfer means in response to the blocked condition of said cam follower means indicative of the resumption of normal occurrences of variant code indicia in the tape.

3. In a tape controlled selector mechanism.

cyclically operable means for sensing code indiciain a tape, transfer means, a plurality of settable members set by said transfer means according to the operation of said tape sensing anemic 13 means, aspecial element associated witn said tape sensing means, a special settabla member, cyclically operable cam means oomprisin abiocke able portion and a settingportion; ca ollo'wer means, control means controlled f b'y'- said 'tapc sensing means, said it control meanscomprising cam projections on said se'ttable members, a rocker member controlled thereby -anda latoh member articulated" to said rocker member,- said latch member adapted tocooperate with: said bloekable portion; energy storage means effective through said 'cam followermeans' following Jnonoperation of said latch member by said rocker member under an inert 1 conditionof said plurality of settable members indicative of-"oon secutiveoccurrences of similar code indiciain the :tape, whereby-said special settable member is enabled to besetin'onemamner-solelyby the setting portion of" said unblocked cam follower means, andto be set in a reverse manner by" the coaction' ofsaid special elementand said transfen means iirrespons'e tdtheb-locked condition or said oam-"ronower means indicative of the resumption of'normal'occurrences or vari ant code 1 indicia in the ztape, and means con-' trolled by said special settabIe'member to preclude the operation of said' itap'e sensing means to thereby introduce a time delay factorcomprising -an-idle tape reading cycle. 4. lncbmbinationtape sensing*means;trans= fer means, a-plura'lity of settable membersset by said transfer means according to the opera tion of said tape sensing meansy cam means, camfollower means-comprising a blockableportionand a setting portion, a special s'ettable member controlled by said setting-portion; blockingmeans comprising a'=rocker member and a floating element yieldably articulated thereto, said floating element:cooperable witlisaid! block i able portion under certain" predetermined oper ating conditions to prevent control of said special settable member by said cam follower means, spring mean-s associated with said earn follower means for rendering said setting portion effective to move said special settable member dur: ing theunblocked condition of said cam follower means;and means associated said plurality of settable members "for '-controlling theeifer:- tiveness of said blocking means.

5. In combination, tape sensing means, transfer means, a plurality of settable members set by said transfer means according to the operation of said tape sensing means, cam means, cam follower means comprising a blockable portion and a setting portion, a special settable member controlled by said setting portion, blocking means comprising a rocker member and a floating element yieldably articulated thereto, said floating element cooperable with said blockable por tion under certain predetermined operating conditions to prevent control of said special settable member by said cam follower means, power storage means associated with said cam follower means for rendering said setting portion effective to move said special settable member during the unblocked condition of said cam follower means, means associated with said plurality of settable members for controlling the efiectivenes of said blocking means, and means controlled by said special settable member to preclude the operation of said tape sensing means to thereby introduce a time delay factor comprising an idle tape reading cycle.

6. In a tape controlled selector mechanism, means for sensing code indicia in a tape, transfer 14 means, a" plurality of: settable:members setvby said transfer means according-I to: theuoperation of said i tape sensing means; a special element associated with said tape sensing means, a spe'cial settable member, cyclically operable cam means, cam follower means comprising aiblocliab'le 1portion and a setting portion, latchable means yieldably associated with said cam follower means "for controlling" said special element, 9 control means controlled'bysaidtape sensing means; said 'control' means comprising cam? projections on said settable members, a rocker member controlled by said projectionsg and a'fioating membe'r yi'eldably articulated'to said rocker member,-said floating member adapted to cooperate with said bl'ockable portion, power storage" means it effective through said cam follower means following thenonoperation of said noatin'g m'ember-by saidroeker member 'under an inert condition? of 'said plurality of settable members indicative of consecutive occurrences of similarcode'indicia in the tapawhereby said special settable member enabled to be "set in one manner solely by the setting portion of said unblocked cam follower means, and to :be "set in a reverse manner by the coaction of said'special element and said' transfer means in response to the blo'cked conditioh of-saidcam follower means indicative of the resun'iption" of -norma'l" occurlatchablemeans to render said 'sp'ecial element ineffective upon s'aid special settable member,

means controlled by said special settable niember' to' preclude: the operation of saidntapewsensing means, and a" tiniing nrechanism controlied by said tape sensing means an'd eifective uponsaid special eienie'nt to introduce atime delay-" ractor comprising a'predeter-m-ined'nurnber of idle tape reading cycles.

7. m combination, tapesensing meansytransfer means,ia plurality or settabi emeinbers set by said transrer means according to the operation orisaid sensirr'g means; cam means cam rollo'wer means comprising ablockable"portion and-a setting portion, 'aspecial'settable member controlled by 'aid setting portion; blo'ck ing means 1 comprising a rocker member and a floating element yieldably articulated thereto, said floating element cooperable with said blockable portion under certain predetermined operating conditions to prevent control of said special settable member by said cam follower means, power storage means associated with said cam follower means for rendering said setting portion effective to move said special settable member during the unblocked condition of said cam follower means, and cam means on said settable members for controlling the effectiveness of said blocking means.

8. In combination, tape sensing means, transfer means, a plurality of selectively settable members set by said transfer means according to the selective control of said tape sensing means, cam means, cam follower means comprising a blockable portion and a setting portion, a special settable member controlled by said setting portion, blocking means comprising a rocker member and a floating element yieldably articulated thereto, said floating element cooperable with said blockable portion under certain predetermined selective conditions to prevent control of said special settable member by said cam follower means, spring means associated with said cam follower means for rendering said setting portion effective to move said special settable member during the unblocked condition of said cam follower means, cam means on said settable members for controlling the effectiveness of said blocking means, and a plurality of elements selectable by said plurality of settable members, said elements effective under other predetermined selective conditions to further control the effectiveness of said blocking means.

9. In combination, tape sensing means, transfer means, a plurality of settable members set by said transfer means according to the operation of said sensing means, cam means, cam follower means comprising a blockable portion and a setting portion, blocking means comprising a rocker member and a floating element yieldably articulated thereto, said floating element cooperable with said blockable portion under certain predetermined operating conditions to prevent control of said special settable members by said cam follower means, spring means associated with said cam follower means for rendering said setting portion efiective to move said special settable members during the unblocked condition of said cam follower means, cam means on said settable members for controlling the effectiveness of said blocking means, and means controlled by said special settable member to preclude the operation of said tape sensing means to thereby introduce a time delay factor comprising an idle tape reading cycle.

10. In a tape controlled selector mechanism, means for sensing code indicia in a tape, transfer means, a plurality of settable members set by said transfer means according to the operation of said tape sensing means, a special'element associatedv with said tape sensing means, a special settable member, cyclically operable cam means, cam follower means, latchable means yieldably associated with said cam follower means for controlling said special element, control means controlled by said tape sensing means, said control means comprising cam projections on said settable members, a rocker member controlled by said projections, and a floating member yieldably articulated to said rocker member, power storage means effective through said cam follower means following the nonoperation of said floating member by said rocker member under an inert condition of said plurality of settable members indicative of consecutive occurrences of similar code indicia in the tape, whereby said special settable member is enabled to be set in one manner solely by said unblocked cam follower means, and tobe set in a reverse manner by the coaction of said special element and said transfer means in response to the blocked condition of said cam follower means indicative of the resumption of normal occurrences of variant code indicia in the tape, latch means effective upon actuation of said special settable member in said one manner to latch said latchable means to render said special element ineffective upon said special settable member, means controlled by said special settable member to preclude the operation of said tape sensing means, and a timing mechanism controlled by said tape sensing means, said timing mechanism effective upon said special element to determine the period of preclusion of operation of said tape sensing means, whereby a time delay factor is provided.

11. In combination, tape sensing means, transfer means, a plurality of settable members set by said transfer means according to the operation of said tape sensing means, cam means, cam follower means comprising a blockable portion and a setting portion, a special settable member controlled by said setting portion, blocking means comprising a rocker vmember and a floating element yieldably articulated thereto, said floating element cooperable with said blockable portion under certain predetermined operating conditions to prevent control of said special settable member by said cam follower means, power storage means associated with said cam follower means for rendering said setting portion effective to move said special settable member during the unblocked condition of said cam follower means, and means associated with said plurality of settable members for controlling the eifectiveness of said blocking means. I

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,104,030 Goetz Jan. 4, 1938 2,152,641 Goetz Apr. 4, 1939 

